Denizens of the Capitol chow down on fish ... Pallid sturgeon not on the menu
For the second day in a row this blog might resemble something you would expect to find on The Food Channel ... and for that, I apologize ... but I can have such fun with this so ... here goes ...
It was a magical day at the State Capitol - not because somebody was giving away free food ... that happens most days. This was the much anticipated Capitol Fish Fry on the south lawn - an annual event sponsored by Missouri's Electric Co-ops. And, as is the case each year, the event was well attended.
What was different this year was a comment or two heard throughout the halls of the Capitol in the days leading up to the event. There were suggestions that the fish of choice should be changed from catfish to the pallid sturgeon (Scaphirhynchus albus) and we've all heard so much about this endangered fish. Said one Senate staffer, jokingly, "We'll tell people we finally found a use for the pallid sturgeon."
This was, of course, a joke and nothing more ... and it would be wrong to laugh at humor that poked fun at somebody's sacred cow ... er ... fish. But it was kind of fun to talk to people at the Fish Fry and ask if they might enjoy "pallid for the palate" in future years ...
Former State Senator David Klindt, now a vice president for the Missouri Electric Cooperatives ... would oppose any change from the current catfish ... even though it would bring a lot of attention.
It appears as though we can assure all those who enjoyed the Fish Fry that next year's fish of choice will not be the pallid sturgeon - which is often called the ugliest fish in North America - and is on the U.S. Fish and Wildlife's endangered species list. Apparently, though, their eggs are great for caviar ...
- Steve Walsh
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